Just one IDA site visit in Wicklow last year

JUST one IDA site visit took place in Co Wicklow in 2018, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation has revealed.

The visit took place in the second quarter of the year. With just 0.2 per cent of total site visits last year, Wicklow had the lowest share of all counties in the Republic, behind the likes of Counties Cavan (0.3 per cent), Roscommon, Wexford and Monaghan (all 0.5 per cent).

The figures were released by Minister Heather Humphreys in response to a parliamentary question from Deputy Billy Kelleher.

Pointing out that over 55 per cent of the total 607 site visits last year were to regional locations, the Minister said that the IDA does ‘everything it can... to encourage overseas firms to locate or expand in regional areas’.

‘It is important to remember, however, that the final decision as to where to invest rests solely with the company concerned,’ said Minister Humphreys. ‘It is also the case that site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as a significant proportion of all new foreign direct investment (FDI) comes from existing IDA clients already present in the country.’

The Minister added that creating jobs in the regions ‘remains a top priority’ for both the IDA and her Department.

In December, Cllr Gerry Walsh, who is chairperson of the Wicklow Economic Development and Enterprise Support Strategic Policy Committee, said there had been ‘a significant development of interest’ in an IDA site in Greystones late last year and hoped that an announcement regarding the site would be made early in 2019.